714 research outputs found
Intrinsic surface depression of the order parameter under mixed (s+id)-wave pair symmetry and its effect on the critical current of high-Tc SIS Josephson junctions
An intrinsic gap depression at the Superconductor-Insulator interface due to
the very short value of the coherence length in High-Tc Superconductors [HTSs]
is considered, in the framework of a mixed (s+id)-wave pair symmetry for the
order parameter ranging from pure s to pure d-wave. This gap depression acts as
the main physical agent causing the relevant reduction of IcRn(T) values with
respect to BCS expectations in HTS SIS Josephson junctions. Good agreement with
various experimental data is obtained with both pure s-wave and pure d-wave
symmetries of the order parameter, but with amounts of gap depression depending
on the pair symmetry adopted. Regardless of the pair symmetry considered, these
results prove the importance of the surface order-parameter depression in the
correct interpretation of the Ic(T)Rn(T) data in HTS SIS junctions. In a case
of planar YBCO-based junction the use of the de Gennes condition allowed us to
tentatively obtain an upper limit for the amount of d-wave present in the order
parameter of YBCO.Comment: 11 pages REVTeX file, 6 PostScript figures, to be published in J.
Superconductivit
Real-Axis Solution of Eliashberg Equations in Various Order-Parameter Symmetries and Tunneling Conductance of Optimally-Doped HTSC
In the present work we calculate the theoretical tunneling conductance curves
of SIN junctions involving high-Tc superconductors, for different possible
symmetries of the order parameter (s, d, s+id, s+d, anisotropic s and extended
s). To do so, we solve the real-axis Eliashberg equations in the case of an
half-filled infinite band. We show that some of the peculiar characteristics of
HTSC tunneling curves (dip and hump at eV > Delta, broadening of the gap peak,
zero bias and so on) can be explained in the framework of the Migdal-Eliashberg
theory. The theoretical dI/dV curves calculated for the different symmetries at
T=4 K are then compared to various experimental tunneling data obtained in
optimally-doped BSCCO, TBCO, HBCO, LSCO and YBCO single crystals. To best fit
the experimental data, the scattering by non-magnetic impurities has to be
taken into account, thus limiting the sensitivity of this procedure in
determining the exact gap symmetry of these materials. Finally, the effect of
the temperature on the theoretical tunneling conductance is also discussed and
the curves obtained at T=2 K are compared to those given by the analytical
continuation of the imaginary-axis solution.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, Proceedings of SATT10 Conference, to be published
in Int. J. Mod. Phys.
Possible d+id scenario in La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_4 by point-contact measurements
We analyze the results of point-contact measurements in La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4}
(LSCO) previously reported as a clear evidence of the separation between gap
and pseudogap in this copper oxide. Here we show that, in addition to this, the
conductance curves of our point-contact junctions -- showing clear Andreev
reflection features -- can be interpreted as supporting a nodeless
d_{x^2-y^2}+id_{xy}-wave symmetry of the gap in LSCO. The results of our
analysis, in particular the doping dependence of the subdominant d_{xy} gap
component, are discussed and compared to the predictions of different
theoretical models.Comment: 6 pages, 4 eps figures, presented at SATT11 Conference (Vietri sul
Mare, March 2002). To appear in Int. J. Mod. Phy
Breakdown of Migdal's theorem and intensity of electron-phonon coupling in high-Tc superconductors
In this article we quantify the possible effects of the breakdown of Migdal's
theorem on the electron-phonon (e-p) coupling constant, on the critical
temperature and on the superconducting gap by examining different kinds of
superconducting materials either with low and high critical temperature. We use
the theoretical approach developed by Grimaldi, Pietronero and Strassler [PRB
52, 10516 & 10530 (1995)] on experimental data taken both from literature and
from our recent break-junction tunneling experiments in Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_{8+x}
(BSCCO) [Physica C 275, 162 (1997) and cond-mat/9612220]. The results show that
a large violation of the Migdal's theorem (as in BSCCO) yields to a large
increase of the observed e-p coupling constant and, in a first approximation
and by direct solution of the Eliashberg equations, to large but different
increases of Tc and gap. The same theory gives no modifications when applied to
low-Tc conventional superconductors. In BSCCO, the renormalized values of the
e-p coupling constant and of the ratio 2Delta/kTc (1.85 and 4.98, respectively)
are compatible with a strong-coupling electron-phonon origin of
superconductivity.Comment: 11 pages REVTeX file, 3 PostScript figures, to be published in Phys.
Rev. B (Rapid Commun.
3D-melting features of the irreversibility line in overdoped BiSrCuO at ultra-low temperature and high magnetic field
We have measured the irreversible magnetization of an overdoped
BiSrCuO single crystal up to B=28 T and down to T=60 mK, and
extracted the irreversibility line : the data can be
interpreted in the whole temperature range as a 3D-anisotropic vortex lattice
melting line with Lindemann number . We also briefly discuss
the applicability of alternative models such as 2D- and quantum melting, and
the connection with magnetoresistance experiments.Comment: M2S-HTSC-VI Conference paper (2 pages, 1 figure), using Elsevier
style espcrc2.st
Independent determination of the two gaps by directional point-contact spectroscopy in MgB_2 single crystals
Directional point-contact spectroscopy measurements were performed for the
first time in state-of-the-art MgB_2 single crystals. The selective suppression
of the superconductivity in the "pi" band by means of a suitable magnetic field
allowed separating the partial contribution of each band to the total
point-contact conductance. By fitting the partial conductance curves
sigma_sigma(V) and sigma_pi(V), we got an independent determination of the two
gaps, Delta_sigma and Delta_pi, with a strong reduction of the experimental
uncertainty. Their temperature dependence was found to agree well with the
predictions of the two-band models for MgB_2.Comment: 6 pages, 4 eps figures. References added, abstract rewritten, text
slightly changed. Proceedings of the BOROMAG Conference, June 17-19, Genoa,
Ital
Evidence for pseudogap and phase-coherence gap separation by Andreev reflection experiments in Au/La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_4 point-contact junctions
We present new Au/La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4} (LSCO) point-contact conductance
measures as a function of voltage and temperature in samples with 0.08 <= x <=
0.2. Andreev reflection features disappear at about the bulk Tc, giving no
evidence of gap for T > Tc. The fit of the normalized conductance at any T < Tc
supports a (s + d)-wave symmetry of the gap, whose dominant low-T s component
follows the Tc(x) curve in contrast with recent angle-resolved photoemission
spectroscopy and quasiparticle tunneling data. These results prove the
separation between pseudogap and phase-coherence superconducting gap in LSCO at
x <= 0.2.Comment: 4 pages, 4 eps figures, 1 table (RevTeX). Labels added to Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 resized; references added; short discussion about ballistic contact
regime adde
Directional point-contact spectroscopy of MgB2 single crystals in magnetic fields: two-band superconductivity and critical fields
The results of the first directional point-contact measurements in MgB2
single crystals, in the presence of magnetic fields up to 9 T either parallel
or perpendicular to the ab planes, are presented. By applying suitable magnetic
fields, we separated the partial contributions of the sigma and pi bands to the
total Andreev-reflection conductance. Their fit with the BTK model allowed a
very accurate determination of the temperature dependency of the gaps
(Delta_sigma and Delta_pi), that resulted in close agreement with the
predictions of the two-band models for MgB2. We also obtained, for the first
time with point-contact spectroscopy, the temperature dependence of the
(anisotropic) upper critical field of the sigma band and of the (isotropic)
upper critical field of the pi band.Comment: 2 pages, 2 figures, proceedings of M2S-HTSC-VII conference, Rio de
Janeiro (May 2003
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